Code Zero Radio

by Matt Metzler

Rock music and radio became a classic combination over 70 years ago when disc jockey Alan Freed popularized the term “rock and roll”. In modern times, however, it’s easy to feel blasé about rock radio due to, amongst other things, corporate downsizing and cookie-cutter programming. One Appleton-based station, WCZR - Code Zero Radio, is finding success by breaking the mold.

Although they have call letters like traditional radio stations, they broadcast exclusively online. Another unique element of Code Zero Radio is their diverse playlist. It’s an edgy mix of seminal alternative rock songs from bands like Stone Temple Pilots, The Black Keys and Nine Inch Nails blended with Northeast Wisconsin musicians and unique indie artists from around the globe.

“If people are looking to discover some new music and find out what the bands in this area are putting out, which we think is great music and you can match it up to anything nationally, tune in, give us 20 minutes, go to our website at codezeroradio.com, download our app and just give us a chance,” long-running WCZR personality, Andy McNamara, says.

You may not recognize much of the music when you first tune in to Code Zero Radio, but even the unfamiliar tracks stand out for their polish and how seamlessly they blend with the classics. That commitment to high-quality sound is what led Bob Minter to start Zip Code Zero, a college radio show in Iowa spotlighting independent artists. He soon found out one show would not be enough.

“When I discovered how many artists were out there releasing their own music by themselves without any label support and they weren’t getting any airplay on traditional stations, I thought it’s the least I could do to build a streaming station and feature those artists,” Minter recalls.

He named that station Code Zero Radio. After attending Appleton’s Mile of Music festival and seeing just how much talent the area had to offer, Minter later moved to Northeast Wisconsin.

Not only does Code Zero Radio play many alternative artists based in the area, Andy McNamara helps you get to know them better with Fox Cities Core, a long-running, hour-long, interview program.

On Core, “You can expect to hear some established artists and some local up-and-coming artists,” said McNamara.

Holly and the Nice Lions, Offend Your Friends and Traveling Suitcase are a few of the Wisconsin-based bands featured. McNamara draws from his own experience as a local musician to ask questions, as well as his love of the laid-back interview style Tom Snyder utilized on The Late Late Show. Some of his favorite artists to interview are those he grew up listening to, including Rebel Waltz and Fun With Atoms. Another one of his favorites is Green Bay’s very own Reverend Norb, the famous frontman of beloved punk band Boris the Sprinkler.

Norb has now made a handful of appearances on Core, once by himself and another time as bassist for Smart Shoppers. This past April, Reverend Norb made his third Fox Cities Core appearance joined by his Boris bandmates. Boris the Sprinkler appeared on Core to promote a benefit concert and share memorable band history, including a successful campaign back in the ‘90’s where the band gave fans a pin in exchange for their panties.

McNamara conducts lively, insightful, interviews and, despite the host’s easygoing persona, the guests can sometimes get a bit rowdy.

“You’re getting bands on here that are too dangerous for the mainstream stations,” McNamara said. “One of those would be the Kamikaze Relief Fund, who came on here and set the record for swearing.”

Besides colorful guests, Code Zero Radio’s programming is peppered with exciting promotions and McNamara fondly recalls a successful stunt from last summer.

“I broadcasted for 24 straight hours and it was an open house. Artists just had to reach out or show up and we did a bunch of interviews all throughout the night. We had Colin and Charlie from Modern Haunting here at three in the morning and they brought an Ouija board so you got a little danger there. It’s something I’d like to do again this year with a little bit more preparation. I was wiped out for a couple days but it was fun.”

Another fresh idea WCZR tried, called My Hour on the Air, found artists who took the station’s reins for 60 minutes to play their favorite songs. McNamara says listeners were even invited to host their own shows.

“One hour a full family came in. A dad, a mom and two kids. Another time, a music teacher brought a bunch of his students and they played their original compositions and talked about them.” It was a successful experiment and McNamara would like to bring it back someday.

“It would be nice to get a bigger space and have a section set up where people in the community can come in and broadcast,” said McNamara.

Fans can also stay plugged into the local music scene when Mark Mader from Appleton Beer Factory stops by each month with a rundown of upcoming shows. His guest appearances are part of the station’s growing effort to connect with more venues in the area.

For listeners looking for something a little softer, Code Zero Radio offers acoustic music weekend mornings with Code Zero Café and the occasional Spencer Street Sessions, where Bob Minter chats with local singer-songwriters before they perform intimate solo sets in the studio.

Code Zero Radio may be run by a small staff but listeners will hear that it’s a labor of love. Broadcasting exclusively online allows the station to experiment and push the envelope. WCZR has also been successful at getting songs from local musicians out to the community.

“The artists were seeing that they were getting feedback from people that heard their music on the station and that, to me, was the most important thing.” Minter said.

You can listen to WCZR, and download their app, at codezeroradio.com.

After 15 years working in radio, Matt Metzler stepped away from the microphone in 2018. Now, spurred by a love of local music and culture, he is pursuing a career in journalism.